The Scribe
11-25-2008, 02:36 AM
Second Region Boys Preview
1. Madisonville (22-10) has a new coach and the top player in the region, which should be enough for the Maroons to advance to Rupp Arena for the first time since 2001.
Marty Cline, who has both played and coached for University Heights in the Sweet 16, moves over from the girls’ program and inherits one of the state’s top players in Jon Hood.
The University of Kentucky signee averaged 21.5 points and 8.3 rebounds last year before suffering a season-ending wrist injury in the district tournament.
Hood is a 6-foot-7, 190-pound senior who can slash, play the wing or point, or post up, giving Cline multiple options on offense.
Dylan Basham (6-6, 190, Soph.) and Joe Kington (6-4, 190, Jr.) give the Maroons some size to sandwich around Hood.
L.J. Gregory (6-1, 180, Sr.) is a seasoned guard for the Maroons, with Carl Hatchett (6-0, 170, Sr.) and Ryan Robinson (5-11, 170, Sr.) also returning in the backcourt.
Cline will have to develop some depth throughout the season, but if the Maroons can stay healthy, there is no reason why Hood won’t get a chance to try out his future home in March.
2. Christian County (12-19) was four points away from knocking off University Heights and advancing to Rupp Arena last year, despite their less-than-stellar record.
Colonels head coach Kerry Stovall has another challenging schedule that includes tournaments at Warren Central, the Louisville Invitational Tournament, and their own city-county tournament that includes Hopkinsville and University Heights.
The Colonels return two of the region’s best guards in 6-foot-1 senior Corey Wilford and 6-foot-4 junior Shaquille Wilson.
Also back for Stovall is 6-foot-1 sophomore Veontae Lewis who burst onto the scene to average just under 10 points a game.
Daquan Murden, a 6-foot-3 senior, came on strong in the second half of the season to help power the Colonels to the region finals.
3. Hopkins County Central (14-16) has the tallest frontcourt in the region in 6-foot-9 bookends Chuck Jones and Dan Croft.
Jones is a senior who can play the wing or post people up inside. He averaged 18.2 points and 9.4 rebounds a game last year.
Croft is a junior that has improved his game over the summer after averaging a little over five points a game last year.
Senior guard Corey Coble is a nice accent to the Storm offense and deadly around the basket, and fellow senior Kelsey Bowman gives the Storm some hops at the guard slot.
4. Not even a new coach could get Henderson County (18-8) to their first Sweet 16 in nine years. Mark Starns coached the Colonels to an 18-win season that fell short in the semifinals of the region tournament.
As always, a strong junior varsity program from a year ago expects to feed the varsity roster this year that includes the return of senior sharpshooter Kevontae Hairlson (6-0, 168), who led the Colonels in 3-point shooting last year.
Senior guard Ryan Haile (5-11, 160) and junior Brock Stone (6-0, 185) should see plenty of time in the backcourt.
6-foot-4 senior Kye Stone is the tallest player for Henderson County, who usually start three people that size or taller.
It’s a good thing gas prices are dropping given Henderson County’s schedule. The Colonels will play in tournaments in Campbellsville, McCreary Central, Lloyd Memorial, East Jessamine, and Harrison County.
5. Hopkinsville (17-13) posted consecutive winning seasons for the first time in four years but suffered a hit in the offseason when forward Darnall Davis and his 13 points transferred to Owensboro.
Head coach James Simmons still has a nice nucleus to work with in junior guard Brayon Mason, Coty Clark, and forward Leon Swope.
6. Webster County (16-12) lost six of their 12 games by single digits last year, and head coach Bev Hart is hoping that experience and the return of his backcourt will turn those losses into wins this year.
Senior guards Labrice Williams (19.5 points), Logan Stull (6-2, 175), and David Stubblefield (6-2, 185) combined to hit 96 3-pointers for the Trojans last year.
Drew Dement (6-5, 205, Sr.) and James Winstead (6-5, 205, Jr.) provide the height in the middle for a team lacking in size and depth. However, their starting five matches up well with just about every team in the region.
7. University Heights (30-5) says goodbye to the Scotty Hopson era, which led them to a 30-win season and a Sweet 16 berth a year ago.
Hopson (University of Tennessee) and Tyshawn Edmonson (St. Johns) have taken their 43 points and 19 rebounds off to college.
Head coach Randy McCoy will have a smaller lineup to play with this year, but it doesn’t lack in big game experience.
Ryan Hudson (6-3, 180, Soph.) averaged 5.1 points and 3.7 rebounds a game last year, while sophomore Matt McGowan started most of the year and scored 6.1 points a night.
Kevin Watkins (6-0, 170, Sr.) joins McGowan in the Blazer backcourt, while Steven Fitzpatrick (6-4, 190, Sr.) should start at center.
McCoy’s roster has four seniors and no juniors, meaning that sophomores Julius Mack (6-0, G), T.J. Smith (6-5, F), and Nakeifer Blane (5-11, G) could see plenty of floor time this year.
8. Lyon County (13-14) returns four starters from last year’s team that won the Fifth District title.
6-foot-7 Ramsey Walker is one of the region’s best big men and is tough to move out of the lane. Walker, also a standout baseball pitcher for the Lyons, averaged 18.1 points and shot 55-percent from the field.
Aaron Corley (6-2) and Mitchell Peeler (6-2) join Walker on the front line.
Junior Taylor Gray worked himself into the starting lineup midway through the season and came up with some clutch baskets for the Lyons, who also welcome back Timmy Perdue in the backcourt.
Casey Kinnis and Josh Polk provide depth at the guard slot, and 6-foot-5 Bryant Houk could be starting by Christmas.
9. Caldwell County (14-12) could prove to be the X-factor in the region this year.
Michael Fraliex and his Tigers return both size and speed to a team that lost in the first round of the Seventh District Tournament last year.
Tron Gray averaged over 13 points a game, while Marcus Wimbleduff also returns to the backcourt.
Caldwell County will feature something that have lacked in recent years – size in the middle.
6-foot-4 twins Jared and Jordan Choate are seniors who should see their playing time increase.
T.J. Miller, a 6-foot-5 senior, played freshman basketball at Caldwell County before moving to Henderson County. Miller is back and could provide a nice scoring option in the middle for the Tigers.
10. Fort Campbell (14-8) will no doubt get off to a slow start with the loss of high-scoring guard Robbie Townsend and the deep playoff run by the football team for the second straight year.
Matt Wallace takes over the helm as head coach of the Falcons, who should still have enough speed to compete for the All-A Regional title.
Guards Raquan Durrante and Tre Powell, along with J.D. Ervin are all key members of the football team and started at times last year on the basketball floor.
11. Trigg County (10-17) returns four starters from last year, but unless their defense improves, they will be relegated to the second tier of the region.
The Wildcats allowed their opponents to score 72 points a game, including seven that scored 80 or more.
Scoring shouldn’t be a problem with the return of guards Jonathon King (24.3 ppg.) and Shelton Burress (13.4 ppg.).
Dustin White (6-2, Sr.) and Jalik Alexander give Trigg some athleticism at the forward spot, and 6-2 junior Zeke Wright is the blue-collar worker of the team.
The Wildcats lacked size last year, but could get some help there with the addition of 6-4 senior transfer Blake Mitchell and 6-4 senior Ryan Acree, who didn’t play last year because of an injury.
If the Wildcats can find discipline this year, they may surprise some people in the region. If they revert to their shot selections from last year, it may be another season of underachieving in Cadiz.
12. Union County (6-22) has the speed and quickness to put a .500 team on the floor this year for head coach Shayne Carey.
Senior guard Torez Jones (5-9, 145) can score with just about anyone and football standout Devin Foster (5-11, 180, Soph.) and junior forward Tevin Moore (6-1, 245) will join Levi Brown (6-0, 145, Soph.) on an undersized frontline.
13. Dawson Springs (7-21) hired veteran girls’ coach William Fralick to slide over to the boys’ bench to lead what could be the school’s best squad in a decade.
Ethan Scott is a 6-7 forward who can play inside or out. He averaged 19.7 points and 8.5 rebounds while hitting two 3-pointers a game for the Panthers.
Aaron Duke is a 6-foot-4 senior who hauled down eight rebounds a game, and 6-foot-4 senior Wes Mitchell shot 54-percent from the field.
Senior Justin Jones is the lone returning starter in the backcourt for the Panthers.
14. Crittenden County (3-19) suffered through their worst season in 15 years, and while they are vastly improved in 2008-09, it still may not be enough to escape the cellar of the region.
Eleven of Crittenden’s 19 losses last year were by single digits, a factor head coach Rob Towery can chalk up to lack of depth.
The Rockets expect to be deeper this year, led by 6-1 forward Gaige Courtney (11.3 ppg.) and 6-1 senior guard Cody Holzer (8.0 ppg.).
15. Livingston Central (9-17) advanced to the region tournament for the first time in 13 years thanks to a first round district win over border rival Crittenden County.
The Cardinals have very little size but return starters Tait Smith (6-2, 170, Sr., F), Clay Davis (5-11, 140, Sr. G), and Chance Wright (6-2, Sr.).
Top Players in the Second Region
1. Jon Hood, forward (Madisonville) – Hood is a Mr. Basketball candidate capable of putting his team on his shoulders.
2. Shaquille Wilson, guard (Christian County) – 6-foot-4 guard who can shoot, run the floor, and rebound.
3. Chuck Jones, forward (Hopkins County Central) – Better when he stays in the paint but can knock down the outside shot
4. Corey Wilford, guard (Christian County) – Perhaps the best defensive player in the region.
5. Ramsey Walker, center (Lyon County) – Has steadily improved his game and is the toughest post player to guard in the region.
6. Ethan Scott, forward (Dawson Springs) – Maybe the best player you’ve never heard of. Can play inside and out.
7. Jonathon King, guard (Trigg County) – One of the region’s best shooters.
8. Torez Jones, guard (Union County) – One of the best at taking the ball to the basket and making things happen.
9. Labrice Williams, guard (Webster County) – Can score inside and out.
10. Kevontae Hairlson, guard (Henderson County) – Deadly outside shooter that will carry the scoring load for Henderson County this year.
1. Madisonville (22-10) has a new coach and the top player in the region, which should be enough for the Maroons to advance to Rupp Arena for the first time since 2001.
Marty Cline, who has both played and coached for University Heights in the Sweet 16, moves over from the girls’ program and inherits one of the state’s top players in Jon Hood.
The University of Kentucky signee averaged 21.5 points and 8.3 rebounds last year before suffering a season-ending wrist injury in the district tournament.
Hood is a 6-foot-7, 190-pound senior who can slash, play the wing or point, or post up, giving Cline multiple options on offense.
Dylan Basham (6-6, 190, Soph.) and Joe Kington (6-4, 190, Jr.) give the Maroons some size to sandwich around Hood.
L.J. Gregory (6-1, 180, Sr.) is a seasoned guard for the Maroons, with Carl Hatchett (6-0, 170, Sr.) and Ryan Robinson (5-11, 170, Sr.) also returning in the backcourt.
Cline will have to develop some depth throughout the season, but if the Maroons can stay healthy, there is no reason why Hood won’t get a chance to try out his future home in March.
2. Christian County (12-19) was four points away from knocking off University Heights and advancing to Rupp Arena last year, despite their less-than-stellar record.
Colonels head coach Kerry Stovall has another challenging schedule that includes tournaments at Warren Central, the Louisville Invitational Tournament, and their own city-county tournament that includes Hopkinsville and University Heights.
The Colonels return two of the region’s best guards in 6-foot-1 senior Corey Wilford and 6-foot-4 junior Shaquille Wilson.
Also back for Stovall is 6-foot-1 sophomore Veontae Lewis who burst onto the scene to average just under 10 points a game.
Daquan Murden, a 6-foot-3 senior, came on strong in the second half of the season to help power the Colonels to the region finals.
3. Hopkins County Central (14-16) has the tallest frontcourt in the region in 6-foot-9 bookends Chuck Jones and Dan Croft.
Jones is a senior who can play the wing or post people up inside. He averaged 18.2 points and 9.4 rebounds a game last year.
Croft is a junior that has improved his game over the summer after averaging a little over five points a game last year.
Senior guard Corey Coble is a nice accent to the Storm offense and deadly around the basket, and fellow senior Kelsey Bowman gives the Storm some hops at the guard slot.
4. Not even a new coach could get Henderson County (18-8) to their first Sweet 16 in nine years. Mark Starns coached the Colonels to an 18-win season that fell short in the semifinals of the region tournament.
As always, a strong junior varsity program from a year ago expects to feed the varsity roster this year that includes the return of senior sharpshooter Kevontae Hairlson (6-0, 168), who led the Colonels in 3-point shooting last year.
Senior guard Ryan Haile (5-11, 160) and junior Brock Stone (6-0, 185) should see plenty of time in the backcourt.
6-foot-4 senior Kye Stone is the tallest player for Henderson County, who usually start three people that size or taller.
It’s a good thing gas prices are dropping given Henderson County’s schedule. The Colonels will play in tournaments in Campbellsville, McCreary Central, Lloyd Memorial, East Jessamine, and Harrison County.
5. Hopkinsville (17-13) posted consecutive winning seasons for the first time in four years but suffered a hit in the offseason when forward Darnall Davis and his 13 points transferred to Owensboro.
Head coach James Simmons still has a nice nucleus to work with in junior guard Brayon Mason, Coty Clark, and forward Leon Swope.
6. Webster County (16-12) lost six of their 12 games by single digits last year, and head coach Bev Hart is hoping that experience and the return of his backcourt will turn those losses into wins this year.
Senior guards Labrice Williams (19.5 points), Logan Stull (6-2, 175), and David Stubblefield (6-2, 185) combined to hit 96 3-pointers for the Trojans last year.
Drew Dement (6-5, 205, Sr.) and James Winstead (6-5, 205, Jr.) provide the height in the middle for a team lacking in size and depth. However, their starting five matches up well with just about every team in the region.
7. University Heights (30-5) says goodbye to the Scotty Hopson era, which led them to a 30-win season and a Sweet 16 berth a year ago.
Hopson (University of Tennessee) and Tyshawn Edmonson (St. Johns) have taken their 43 points and 19 rebounds off to college.
Head coach Randy McCoy will have a smaller lineup to play with this year, but it doesn’t lack in big game experience.
Ryan Hudson (6-3, 180, Soph.) averaged 5.1 points and 3.7 rebounds a game last year, while sophomore Matt McGowan started most of the year and scored 6.1 points a night.
Kevin Watkins (6-0, 170, Sr.) joins McGowan in the Blazer backcourt, while Steven Fitzpatrick (6-4, 190, Sr.) should start at center.
McCoy’s roster has four seniors and no juniors, meaning that sophomores Julius Mack (6-0, G), T.J. Smith (6-5, F), and Nakeifer Blane (5-11, G) could see plenty of floor time this year.
8. Lyon County (13-14) returns four starters from last year’s team that won the Fifth District title.
6-foot-7 Ramsey Walker is one of the region’s best big men and is tough to move out of the lane. Walker, also a standout baseball pitcher for the Lyons, averaged 18.1 points and shot 55-percent from the field.
Aaron Corley (6-2) and Mitchell Peeler (6-2) join Walker on the front line.
Junior Taylor Gray worked himself into the starting lineup midway through the season and came up with some clutch baskets for the Lyons, who also welcome back Timmy Perdue in the backcourt.
Casey Kinnis and Josh Polk provide depth at the guard slot, and 6-foot-5 Bryant Houk could be starting by Christmas.
9. Caldwell County (14-12) could prove to be the X-factor in the region this year.
Michael Fraliex and his Tigers return both size and speed to a team that lost in the first round of the Seventh District Tournament last year.
Tron Gray averaged over 13 points a game, while Marcus Wimbleduff also returns to the backcourt.
Caldwell County will feature something that have lacked in recent years – size in the middle.
6-foot-4 twins Jared and Jordan Choate are seniors who should see their playing time increase.
T.J. Miller, a 6-foot-5 senior, played freshman basketball at Caldwell County before moving to Henderson County. Miller is back and could provide a nice scoring option in the middle for the Tigers.
10. Fort Campbell (14-8) will no doubt get off to a slow start with the loss of high-scoring guard Robbie Townsend and the deep playoff run by the football team for the second straight year.
Matt Wallace takes over the helm as head coach of the Falcons, who should still have enough speed to compete for the All-A Regional title.
Guards Raquan Durrante and Tre Powell, along with J.D. Ervin are all key members of the football team and started at times last year on the basketball floor.
11. Trigg County (10-17) returns four starters from last year, but unless their defense improves, they will be relegated to the second tier of the region.
The Wildcats allowed their opponents to score 72 points a game, including seven that scored 80 or more.
Scoring shouldn’t be a problem with the return of guards Jonathon King (24.3 ppg.) and Shelton Burress (13.4 ppg.).
Dustin White (6-2, Sr.) and Jalik Alexander give Trigg some athleticism at the forward spot, and 6-2 junior Zeke Wright is the blue-collar worker of the team.
The Wildcats lacked size last year, but could get some help there with the addition of 6-4 senior transfer Blake Mitchell and 6-4 senior Ryan Acree, who didn’t play last year because of an injury.
If the Wildcats can find discipline this year, they may surprise some people in the region. If they revert to their shot selections from last year, it may be another season of underachieving in Cadiz.
12. Union County (6-22) has the speed and quickness to put a .500 team on the floor this year for head coach Shayne Carey.
Senior guard Torez Jones (5-9, 145) can score with just about anyone and football standout Devin Foster (5-11, 180, Soph.) and junior forward Tevin Moore (6-1, 245) will join Levi Brown (6-0, 145, Soph.) on an undersized frontline.
13. Dawson Springs (7-21) hired veteran girls’ coach William Fralick to slide over to the boys’ bench to lead what could be the school’s best squad in a decade.
Ethan Scott is a 6-7 forward who can play inside or out. He averaged 19.7 points and 8.5 rebounds while hitting two 3-pointers a game for the Panthers.
Aaron Duke is a 6-foot-4 senior who hauled down eight rebounds a game, and 6-foot-4 senior Wes Mitchell shot 54-percent from the field.
Senior Justin Jones is the lone returning starter in the backcourt for the Panthers.
14. Crittenden County (3-19) suffered through their worst season in 15 years, and while they are vastly improved in 2008-09, it still may not be enough to escape the cellar of the region.
Eleven of Crittenden’s 19 losses last year were by single digits, a factor head coach Rob Towery can chalk up to lack of depth.
The Rockets expect to be deeper this year, led by 6-1 forward Gaige Courtney (11.3 ppg.) and 6-1 senior guard Cody Holzer (8.0 ppg.).
15. Livingston Central (9-17) advanced to the region tournament for the first time in 13 years thanks to a first round district win over border rival Crittenden County.
The Cardinals have very little size but return starters Tait Smith (6-2, 170, Sr., F), Clay Davis (5-11, 140, Sr. G), and Chance Wright (6-2, Sr.).
Top Players in the Second Region
1. Jon Hood, forward (Madisonville) – Hood is a Mr. Basketball candidate capable of putting his team on his shoulders.
2. Shaquille Wilson, guard (Christian County) – 6-foot-4 guard who can shoot, run the floor, and rebound.
3. Chuck Jones, forward (Hopkins County Central) – Better when he stays in the paint but can knock down the outside shot
4. Corey Wilford, guard (Christian County) – Perhaps the best defensive player in the region.
5. Ramsey Walker, center (Lyon County) – Has steadily improved his game and is the toughest post player to guard in the region.
6. Ethan Scott, forward (Dawson Springs) – Maybe the best player you’ve never heard of. Can play inside and out.
7. Jonathon King, guard (Trigg County) – One of the region’s best shooters.
8. Torez Jones, guard (Union County) – One of the best at taking the ball to the basket and making things happen.
9. Labrice Williams, guard (Webster County) – Can score inside and out.
10. Kevontae Hairlson, guard (Henderson County) – Deadly outside shooter that will carry the scoring load for Henderson County this year.